Nikon F focusing screens / Beattie Screens

DavidClapp · Aug 26, 2020

I have recently bought a mint F2AS from Japan and the installed a mint H2 screen I own. It's was absolutely wonderful before the start of my three week road trip, not a mark anywhere, but now there is dust inside, between the glass / fresnel. I see its an issue with these older cameras and a right pain in the *** to clean them.

Can I ask is the Beattie Nikon F Intenscreen one piece? If I could just get around this with a one piece screen, I would be happier. I have read all this stuff about using ultrasonic cleaners etc, but its not practical for the everyday photographer.

beemermark · Aug 26, 2020

Get canned air to blow out the dust through the lens mount. Remove the finder and do the same. 5 minutes and you're done. Make sure you're blowing classified air and not liquid air out of the can. You must live in an awfully dusty place, I've never been bothered by dust in my F2. Or maybe some of the foam is crumbling an getting on your screen.

benjiboy · Aug 26, 2020

DavidClapp said:
I have recently bought a mint F2AS from Japan and the installed a mint H2 screen I own. It's was absolutely wonderful before the start of my three week road trip, not a mark anywhere, but now there is dust inside, between the glass / fresnel. I see its an issue with these older cameras and a right pain in the *** to clean them.
They are one piece David, but they are no longer made.

Can I ask is the Beattie Nikon F Intenscreen one piece? If I could just get around this with a one piece screen, I would be happier. I have read all this stuff about using ultrasonic cleaners etc, but its not practical for the everyday photographer.

DavidClapp · Aug 26, 2020

beemermark said:
Get canned air to blow out the dust through the lens mount. Remove the finder and do the same. 5 minutes and you're done. Make sure you're blowing classified air and not liquid air out of the can. You must live in an awfully dusty place, I've never been bothered by dust in my F2. Or maybe some of the foam is crumbling an getting on your screen.

I’ve refoamed the entire camera so it’s not that. It’s dust trapped between the glass fresnel. So you’re saying blast the dust out with compressed air? Unless I take the screen out, dismantle the frame and rebuild, I won’t get it out. I’ve already tried doing this on an old focusing screen and it’s extremely troublesome as the glass / fresnel get statically charged. I’ll have another go but it was literally impossible last time...

It’s why I’m asking about the Beattie screens being one piece...

Christiaan Phleger · Aug 26, 2020

All screens for the F2 are in metal frames; the only way to get to that dust is as you say take apart the screen. Its fairly easy but you need to either be super careful and not destroy the thin strip of tape that holds the 'screen' to the fresnel or make a new one with a razor (before you start). On the F3 screens you can 'undo' the narrower sides and blast air in between the two optical pieces there is a tiny gap (must be maintained by accurate reassembly or focus errors). Fungal growth can be an issue here in Hawaii so cleaning screens is a somewhat regular task.

beemermark · Aug 26, 2020

OK, mis-understood your issue. However I find it difficult to believe you're getting dirt between the lenses in the screen assembly. Maybe caulking around the frame -

Nikon F focusing screens / Beattie Screens

DavidClapp

beemermark

benjiboy

DavidClapp

Christiaan Phleger

beemermark

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